Biography
William Fox (born Vilmos Fried) was a Hungarian-American film executive and producer. He founded the Fox Film Corporation in 1915 and built a major studio and theatre chain.
Fox produced Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927), directed by F. W. Murnau, as well as other Fox films including 7th Heaven (1927), Street Angel (1928) and City Girl (1930). He pioneered sound-on-film technology through Movietone and widescreen with The Big Trail (1930).
Born on 1 January 1879 in Tolcsva, Austria-Hungary (now Hungary), Fox immigrated to the United States as an infant. He began in exhibition with nickelodeons, expanded into production and distribution, and was forced out of his company following the 1929 stock market crash and antitrust issues. He died in New York City on 8 May 1952.
